Contributions to State unemployment funds
Additional credit
In addition to the credit allowed under subsection (a), a taxpayer may credit against the tax imposed by section 3301 for any taxable year an amount, with respect to the unemployment compensation law of each State certified as provided in section 3303 for the 12-month period ending on October 31 of such year, or with respect to any provisions thereof so certified, equal to the amount, if any, by which the contributions required to be paid by him with respect to the taxable year were less than the contributions such taxpayer would have been required to pay if throughout the taxable year he had been subject under such State law to the highest rate applied thereunder in such 12-month period to any person having individuals in his employ, or to a rate of 5.4 percent, whichever rate is lower.
Limit on total credits
Definitions and special rules relating to subsection (c)
Rate of tax deemed to be 6 percent
In applying subsection (c), the tax imposed by section 3301 shall be computed at the rate of 6 percent in lieu of the rate provided by such section.
Wages attributable to a particular State
For purposes of subsection (c), wages shall be attributable to a particular State if they are subject to the unemployment compensation law of the State, or (if not subject to the unemployment compensation law of any State) if they are determined (under rules or regulations prescribed by the Secretary) to be attributable to such State.
Additional taxes inapplicable where advances are repaid before November 10 of taxable year
Paragraph (2) of subsection (c) shall not apply with respect to any State for the taxable year if (as of the beginning of November 10 of such year) there is no balance of advances referred to in such paragraph.
Average employer contribution rate
5-year benefit cost rate
Rounding
If any percentage referred to in either subparagraph (B) or (C) of subsection (c)(2) is not a multiple of .1 percent, it shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of .1 percent.
Determination and certification of percentages
The percentage referred to in subsection (c)(2)(B) or (C) for any taxable year for any State having a balance referred to therein shall be determined by the Secretary of Labor, and shall be certified by him to the Secretary of the Treasury before June 1 of such year, on the basis of a report furnished by such State to the Secretary of Labor before May 1 of such year. Any such State report shall be made as of the close of March 31 of the taxable year, and shall be made on such forms, and shall contain such information, as the Secretary of Labor deems necessary to the performance of his duties under this section.
Successor employer
Limitation on credit reduction
Limitation
Requirements
Credit reductions for subsequent years
If the credit reduction under subsection (c)(2) is limited by reason of paragraph (1) of this subsection for any taxable year, for purposes of applying subsection (c)(2) to subsequent taxable years (including years after 1987), the taxable year for which the credit reduction was so limited (and January 1 thereof) shall not be taken into account.
State unemployment tax rate
Benefit cost ratio
In general
Reimbursable benefits not taken into account
Reimbursing employer
The term “reimbursing employer” means any governmental entity or other organization (or group of governmental entities or any other organizations) which makes reimbursements in lieu of contributions to the State unemployment fund.
Rounding
If any percentage determined under subparagraph (A) is not a multiple of .1 percent, such percentage shall be reduced to the nearest multiple of .1 percent.
Reports
The Secretary of Labor may, by regulations, require a State to furnish such information at such time and in such manner as may be necessary for purposes of this subsection.
Definitions and special rules
The definitions and special rules set forth in subsection (d) shall apply to this subsection in the same manner as they apply to subsection (c).
Partial limitation
Credit reduction not to apply when State makes certain repayments
In general
In the case of any State which meets requirements of paragraph (2) with respect to any taxable year, subsection (c)(2) shall not apply to such taxable year; except that such taxable year (and January 1 of such taxable year) shall (except as provided in subsection (f)(3)) be taken into account for purposes of applying subsection (c)(2) to succeeding taxable years.
Requirements
Definitions
Potential additional taxes
The term “potential additional taxes” means, with respect to any State for any taxable year, the aggregate amount of the additional tax which would be payable under this chapter for such taxable year by all taxpayers subject to the unemployment compensation law of such State for such taxable year if paragraph (2) of subsection (c) had applied to such taxable year and any preceding taxable year without regard to this subsection but with regard to subsection (f).
Treatment of certain reductions
Any reduction in the State’s balance under section 901(d)(1) of the Social Security Act shall not be treated as a repayment made by such State.
Reports
The Secretary of Labor may require a State to furnish such information at such time and in such manner as may be necessary for purposes of paragraph (2).
Treatment of certified professional employer organizations
If a certified professional employer organization (as defined in section 7705), or a customer of such organization, makes a contribution to the State’s unemployment fund with respect to wages paid to a work site employee, such certified professional employer organization shall be eligible for the credits available under this section with respect to such contribution.
Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736 68A Stat. 439 Pub. L. 86–778, title V, § 523(b)74 Stat. 980 Pub. L. 87–6, § 14(b)75 Stat. 16 Pub. L. 87–321, § 1(a)75 Stat. 683 Pub. L. 88–31, § 2(b)77 Stat. 51 Pub. L. 88–173, § 1(a)77 Stat. 305 Pub. L. 91–373, title I, § 142(a)84 Stat. 707 Pub. L. 93–618, title II, § 239(e)88 Stat. 2025 Pub. L. 94–45, title I, § 110(a)89 Stat. 239 Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX90 Stat. 1808 Pub. L. 95–19, title II, § 201(a)91 Stat. 43 Pub. L. 96–589, § 6(f)94 Stat. 3409 Pub. L. 97–35, title XXIV, § 2406(a)95 Stat. 876 Pub. L. 97–248, title II96 Stat. 555–557 Pub. L. 98–21, title V97 Stat. 146 Pub. L. 99–514, title XVIII, § 1884(1)100 Stat. 2919 Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title II, § 221(a)(101)128 Stat. 4052 Pub. L. 115–141, div. U, title IV, § 401(b)(38)132 Stat. 1204 (, ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; –(c), , ; , (b), , ; , , ; , title III, § 302, , , 243; , §§ 1903(a)(12), 1906(b)(13)(A), , , 1834; , , ; , , ; , , ; , §§ 271(c)(2), (3)(A), (B), 272(a), 273(a), , ; , §§ 512(a)(1), (b), 513(a)–(c), , , 147; , (2), , ; , div. B, title II, § 206(c)(1), , , 4070; , (39), , .)
Editorial Notes
References in Text
act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531 49 Stat. 620 section 1305 of Title 42The Social Security Act, referred to in subsecs. (c)(2), (f)(2)(D), (5)(A)(i), (8)(B), and (g)(2)(A), (B), (3)(B), is , . Title XII of the Social Security Act is classified generally to subchapter XII (§ 1321 et seq.) of chapter 7 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. Sections 901(d)(1) and 1202(b)(8)(B) of the Social Security Act are classified to sections 1101(d)(1) and 1322(b)(8)(B), respectively, of Title 42. For complete classification of this act to the Code, see and Tables.
section 2311 of Title 19Section 239 of the Trade Act of 1974, referred to in subsec. (c)(3)(A), (B), is classified to subsec. (c)(3) of this section and to , Customs Duties.
Pub. L. 97–35The date of the enactment of this subsection, referred to in subsec. (f)(2)(A), (B), means the date of the enactment of which was approved .
Pub. L. 97–248The date of the enactment of this subsection, referred to in subsec. (g)(2)(C), means the date of the enactment of , which was approved .
Amendments
Pub. L. 115–141, § 401(b)(38)2018—Subsec. (c)(2). , struck out at beginning of concluding provisions “The provisions of the preceding sentence shall not be applicable with respect to the taxable year beginning , or any succeeding taxable year which begins before ; and, for purposes of such sentence, , shall be deemed to be the first January 1 occurring after , and consecutive taxable years in the period commencing , shall be determined as if the taxable year which begins on , were the taxable year immediately succeeding the taxable year which began on .”
Pub. L. 115–141, § 401(b)(39)(B)Subsec. (f)(2). , struck out concluding provisions which read as follows: “The requirements of subparagraphs (C) and (D) shall not apply to taxable years 1981 and 1982.”
Pub. L. 115–141, § 401(b)(39)(A)Subsec. (f)(2)(D). , struck out “(or, for purposes of applying this subparagraph to taxable year 1983, )” before period at end.
Pub. L. 113–295, § 221(a)(101)(A)2014—Subsec. (f)(4). , substituted “subsection, the” for “subsection—”, subpar. (A) designation and heading “In general”, and “The”; redesignated cls. (i) and (ii) as subpars. (A) and (B), respectively, and realigned margins; and struck out former subpar. (B) which related to treatment of additional tax under this chapter for taxable years 1983 and 1984.
Pub. L. 113–295, § 221(a)(101)(B)Subsec. (f)(5)(D), (E). , redesignated subpar. (E) as (D) and struck out former subpar. (D) which related to special rules for years before 1985.
Pub. L. 113–295, § 206(c)(1)Subsec. (h). , added subsec. (h).
Pub. L. 99–514, § 1884(1)1986—Subsec. (c)(2)(B). , substituted “denominator” for second reference to “determination”, and in cl. (i) inserted “percent” after “2.7” and struck out “percent” after “is to be made”.
Pub. L. 99–514, § 1884(2)Subsec. (f)(8)(A). , substituted “1986” for “1987”.
Pub. L. 98–21, § 513(c)1983—Subsec. (c)(2)(B). , inserted “, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the State’s average annual wage in covered employment for the calendar year in which the determination is made and the determination of which is the wage base under this chapter,” in provisions preceding cl. (i).
Pub. L. 98–21, § 513(b)Subsec. (c)(2)(B)(i). , inserted “multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the wage base under this chapter and the denominator of which is the estimated United States average annual wage in covered employment for the calendar year in which the determination is to be made” after “2.7”.
Pub. L. 98–21, § 513(a)Subsec. (d)(4)(B). , amended subpar. (B) generally, adding cl. (i), designating existing provisions as cl. (ii), and inserting reference to purposes of subsec. (c)(2)(C).
Pub. L. 98–21, § 512(b)Subsec. (f)(1). , struck out “beginning before ,” after “any taxable year”.
Pub. L. 98–21, § 512(a)(1)Subsec. (f)(8). , added par. (8).
Pub. L. 97–248, § 271(c)(2)(A)1982—Subsec. (b). , substituted “5.4 percent” for “2.7 percent”.
Pub. L. 97–248, § 273(a)Subsec. (c)(2). , inserted provision at end that subpar. (C) shall not apply with respect to any taxable year to which it would otherwise apply (but that subpar. (B) would apply to such taxable year) if the Secretary of Labor determines (on or before Nov. 10 of such taxable year) that the State meets the requirements of subsec. (f)(2)(B) of this section for such taxable year.
Pub. L. 97–248, § 271(c)(3)(A)Subsec. (c)(2)(A). , substituted “5 percent” for “10 percent” in two places.
Pub. L. 97–248, § 271(c)(3)(B)Subsec. (c)(3). , substituted “7½ percent” for “15 percent” in provisions following subpar. (B).
Pub. L. 97–248, § 271(c)(2)(B)Subsec. (d)(1). , substituted “6 percent” for “3 percent” in par. heading and text.
Pub. L. 97–248, § 272(a)Subsec. (g). , added subsec. (g).
Pub. L. 97–351981—Subsec. (f). added subsec. (f).
Pub. L. 96–5891980—Subsec. (a)(5). added par. (5).
Pub. L. 95–191977—Subsec. (c)(2). substituted “” for “” wherever appearing.
Pub. L. 94–455, § 1903(a)(12)(A)1976—Subsec. (a)(1). , struck out “(10-month period in the case of )” after “ending on October 31 of such year”.
Pub. L. 94–455, § 1903(a)(12)(B)Subsec. (b). , struck out “(10-month period in the case of )” after “ending on October 31, of such year” and substituted “12-month period” for “12 or 10–month period, as the case may be,”.
Pub. L. 94–455, § 1903(a)(12)(C)(i)Subsec. (c)(2). , (ii), redesignated par. (3) as (2), struck out “on or after the date of the enactment of the Employment Security Act of 1960” after “title XII of the Social Security Act”, and substituted “paragraph (1)” for “paragraphs (1) and (2). Former par. (2), which related to the computation of the reduction of the total credits allowable to a taxpayer with respect to advances made to the unemployment account, was struck out.
Pub. L. 94–455, § 1903(a)(12)(C)(i)Subsec. (c)(3), (4). , (iii), redesignated par. (4) as (3) and substituted “paragraphs (1) and (2)” for “paragraphs (1), (2), and (3)”. Former par. (3) redesignated (2).
Pub. L. 94–455, § 1906(b)(13)(A)Subsec. (d)(2). , struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”.
Pub. L. 94–455, § 1903(a)(12)(C)(iv)Subsec. (d)(3). , struck out “or (3)” after “Paragraph (2)”.
Pub. L. 94–455, § 1903(a)Subsec. (d)(4) to (6). (12(C)(v), substituted “subsection (c)(2)” for “subsection (c)(3)”.
Pub. L. 94–455, § 1903(a)(12)(C)(vi)Subsec. (d)(7). , substituted “subsection (c)(2)(B) or (C)” for “subsection (c)(3)(B) or (C)”.
Pub. L. 94–455, § 1903(a)(12)(D)Subsec. (d)(8). , struck out par. (8) which provided for a cross reference to section 104 of the Temporary Unemployment Compensation Act of 1958 relating to the reduction of total credits allowable under subsec. (c) of this section.
Pub. L. 94–45, § 110(a)1975—Subsec. (c)(3). , provided that par. (3) shall not be applicable with respect to the taxable year beginning , or any succeeding taxable year which begins before , and that, for the purposes of par. (3), , shall be deemed to be the first Jan. 1 occurring after , and consecutive taxable years in the period commencing , shall be determined as if the taxable year which begins , were the taxable year immediately succeeding the taxable year which began on .
Pub. L. 94–45, § 302Subsec. (c)(4). , substituted “” for “”.
Pub. L. 93–618 added par. (4).
Pub. L. 91–373, § 142(a)1970—Subsec. (a)(1). , substituted “certified as provided in section 3304 for the 12–month period ending on October 31 of such year (10–month period in the case of )” for “certified for the taxable year as provided in section 3304”.
Pub. L. 91–373, § 142(b)Subsec. (b). , changed the certification date from December 31 to October 31, with a provision for a 10–month period in the case of , and provided for certification based on a 12-month period ending each October 31.
Pub. L. 88–1731963—Subsec. (c). , in cl. (2), substituted “on (and in the case of any succeeding taxable year beginning before ),” for “with the fourth consecutive January 1”, in subpar. (A), and “on or after ,” for “with a consecutive January 1”, in subpar. (B), and inserted paragraph following subpar. (B).
Pub. L. 88–31Subsec. (d)(1). substituted “the rate provided by such section” for “3.1 percent (or, in the case of the tax imposed with respect to the calendar years 1962 and 1963, in lieu of 3.5 percent)”.
Pub. L. 87–61961—Subsec. (d)(1). provided for computation of the tax at the rate of 3 percent in lieu of 3.5 percent for calendar years 1962 and 1968.
Pub. L. 87–321Subsec. (e). added subsec. (e).
Pub. L. 86–7781960—Subsec. (c). restricted cl. (2) to advances made before the date of the enactment of the Employment Security Act of 1960, added cl. (3), and struck out provisions which related to the attributing of wages to a particular State, which provisions are now covered by subsec. (d)(2).
Pub. L. 86–778Subsec. (d). added subsec. (d).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2014 Amendment
Pub. L. 113–295, div. B, title II, § 206(g)(1)128 Stat. 4071
section 221(a)(101) of Pub. L. 113–295section 221(b) of Pub. L. 113–295section 1 of this titleAmendment by effective , subject to a savings provision, see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1983 Amendment
Pub. L. 98–21, title V, § 512(a)(2)97 Stat. 146
Pub. L. 98–21, title V, § 513(d)97 Stat. 147
Effective Date of 1982 Amendment
Pub. L. 97–248section 271(d)(2) of Pub. L. 97–248section 3301 of this titleAmendment by section 271(c)(2), (3)(A), (B) of applicable to remuneration paid after , see , as amended, set out as a note under .
Pub. L. 97–248, title II, § 272(b)96 Stat. 557
Pub. L. 97–248, title II, § 273(b)96 Stat. 557
Effective Date of 1981 Amendment
Pub. L. 97–35, title XXIV, § 2406(b)95 Stat. 878
Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
Pub. L. 96–589section 7(e) of Pub. L. 96–589section 108 of this titleAmendment by effective , but not to apply to proceedings under Title 11, Bankruptcy, commenced before , see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1970 Amendment
Pub. L. 91–373, title I, § 142(i)84 Stat. 708
Effective Date of 1963 Amendment
Pub. L. 88–173, § 1(d)77 Stat. 306
Effective Date of 1961 Amendment
Pub. L. 87–321, § 1(b)75 Stat. 683
Savings Provision
Pub. L. 115–141section 401(e) of Pub. L. 115–141section 23 of this titleFor provisions that nothing in amendment by be construed to affect treatment of certain transactions occurring, property acquired, or items of income, loss, deduction, or credit taken into account prior to , for purposes of determining liability for tax for periods ending after , see , set out as a note under .
Construction
Pub. L. 113–295, div. B, title II, § 206(h)128 Stat. 4071
Extension of Period for Repayment of Federal Loans to State Unemployment Funds
Pub. L. 102–318, title III, § 304106 Stat. 298
General Rule .—
Requirements .—
Special Rule .—
Plan Amendments Not Required Until January 1, 1989
Pub. L. 99–514section 1140 of Pub. L. 99–514section 401 of this titleFor provisions directing that if any amendments made by subtitle A or subtitle C of title XI [§§ 1101–1147 and 1171–1177] or title XVIII [§§ 1800–1899A] of require an amendment to any plan, such plan amendment shall not be required to be made before the first plan year beginning on or after , see , as amended, set out as a note under .
Transitional Rule for Certain Employees and Small Businesses
Pub. L. 97–248, title II, § 271(d)(3)96 Stat. 555 Pub. L. 98–601, § 1(a)98 Stat. 3147 Pub. L. 99–514, § 2100 Stat. 2095
Transitional rule for certain employees.—
In general .—
Requirements .—
Required rate .—
Applicable percentage .—
Qualified specific industry provision .—
Transitional rule for certain small businesses.—
In general .—
Requirements .—
Required rate .—
Qualified small business provision .—
Definition .—
Pub. L. 98–601, § 1(b)98 Stat. 3148
Findings of Secretary of Labor Concerning Steps Taken by States as Prerequisite to Suspension Until , of Automatic Increases in Federal Unemployment Tax
Pub. L. 95–19, title II, § 201(b)91 Stat. 43 section 201(a) of Pub. L. 95–19, , , provided that extension under (amending this section) from , to , not to apply to any State unless the Secretary of Labor finds that such State meets the requirement of section 110(b) of Emergency Compensation and Special Unemployment Assistance Extension Act of 1975.
Fiscal Soundness of State Unemployment Account in Unemployment Trust Fund; Unpaid Loans to States; Findings of Secretary of Labor Concerning Steps Taken by States as Prerequisite to 1975–1977 Suspension of Automatic Increases in Federal Unemployment Tax
Pub. L. 94–45, title I, § 110(b)89 Stat. 239